By Phillip Antoh
More than half a million Ghanaian students began their final secondary school examinations on Wednesday, as the Ministry of Education warned candidates and invigilators against cheating and threatened legal action for any malpractice.
A total of 509,862 candidates – 225,274 boys and 284,588 girls from 1,020 schools are registered for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at 1,017 centres across the country, the ministry said.
The candidate figure represents a 10.4% increase from last year’s 461,736, according to ministry data.
“We encourage candidates to remain calm, focused, and disciplined,” Deputy Minister of Education Clement Abas Apaak said in a statement. “Students should have confidence in their abilities and trust the preparation they have received.”
The ministry issued a stern warning against any form of examination malpractice, saying the government fully backs the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in efforts to maintain the credibility of the exams.
“Cheating can lead to serious consequences such as paper cancellations, disqualification, and potential legal action,” Apaak said. “No exam result is worth risking one’s future.”
Invigilators, supervisors, teachers, school officials and outsiders who attempt to facilitate malpractice will face legal consequences, the ministry said.
“Examination fraud poses a significant threat to the integrity of Ghana’s educational system and will not be tolerated,” the deputy minister added.
Apaak disclosed that 43 teachers have been arrested for malpractice during the recently concluded Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and will face strict legal action.
“We urge all stakeholders involved in the ongoing WASSCE to be cautious, as those found guilty will not escape punishment,” he said.
The ministry said it is considering public requests to publish the names of all adults involved in BECE malpractices.
Parents, teachers, school authorities and security agencies were urged to help maintain the integrity of the examination process.